Day 271 The Bible in a Year (Orthodox canon)

Sirach 28

1 He that revengeth shall find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely keep his sins [in remembrance]. 2 Forgive thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done unto thee, so shall thy sins also be forgiven when thou prayest. 3 One man beareth hatred against another, and doth he seek pardon from the Lord? 4 He sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his own sins? 5 If he that is but flesh nourish hatred, who will intreat for pardon of his sins? 6 Remember thy end, and let thy enmity cease; [remember] corruption and death, and abide in the commandments. 7 Remember the commandments, and bear no malice to thy neighbour: [remember] the covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance. 8 Abstain from strife, and thou shalt diminish thy sins: for a furious man will kindle strife. 9 A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh debate among them that be at peace. 10 As the matter of the fire is, so it burneth: and as a man's strength is, so is his wrath; and according to his riches his anger riseth; and the stronger they are which contend, the more they will be inflamed. 11 An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood. 12 If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth. 13 Curse the whisperer and double-tongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace. 14 A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men. 15 A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours. 16 Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly. 17 The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. 18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue. 19 Well is he that is defended from it, and hath not passed through the venom thereof, who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands. 20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass. 21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it. 22 It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof. 23 Such as forsake the Lord shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard. 24 Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold, 25 and weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth. 26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.

Sirach 29

1 He that is merciful will lend unto his neighbour; and he that strengtheneth his hand keepeth the commandments. 2 Lend to thy neighbour in time of his need, and pay thou thy neighbour again in due season. 3 Keep thy word, and deal faithfully with him, and thou shalt always find the thing that is necessary for thee. 4 Many, when a thing was lent them, reckoned it to be found, and put them to trouble that helped them. 5 Till he hath received, he will kiss a man's hand; and for his neighbour's money he will speak submissively: but when he should repay, he will prolong the time, and return words of grief, and complain of the time. 6 If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half, and he will count as if he had found it: if not, he hath deprived him of his money, and he hath gotten him an enemy without cause: he payeth him with cursings and railings; and for honour he will pay him disgrace. 7 Many therefore have refused to lend for other men's ill dealing, fearing to be defrauded. 8 Yet have thou patience with a man in poor estate, and delay not to shew him mercy. 9 Help the poor for the commandment's sake, and turn him not away because of his poverty. 10 Lose thy money for thy brother and thy friend, and let it not rust under a stone to be lost. 11 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and it shall bring thee more profit than gold. 12 Shut up alms in thy storehouses: and it shall deliver thee from all affliction. 13 It shall fight for thee against thine enemies better than a mighty shield and strong spear. 14 An honest man is surety for his neighbour: but he that is impudent will forsake him. 15 Forget not the friendship of thy surety, for he hath given his life for thee. 16 A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety: 17 and he that is of an unthankful mind will leave him [in danger] that delivered him. 18 Suretyship hath undone many of good estate, and shaken them as a wave of the sea: mighty men hath it driven from their houses, so that they wandered among strange nations. 19 A wicked man transgressing the commandments of the Lord shall fall into suretyship: and he that undertaketh and followeth other men's business for gain shall fall into suits. 20 Help thy neighbour according to thy power, and beware that thou thyself fall not into the same. 21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread, and clothing, and a house to cover shame. 22 Better is the life of a poor man in a mean cottage, than delicate fare in another man's house. 23 Be it little or much, hold thee contented, 24 for it is a miserable life to go from house to house: for where thou art a stranger, thou darest not open thy mouth. 25 Thou shalt entertain, and feast, and have no thanks: moreover thou shalt hear bitter words: 26 Come, thou stranger, and furnish a table, and feed me of that thou hast ready. 27 Give place, thou stranger, to an honourable man; my brother cometh to be lodged, and I have need of mine house. 28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding; the upbraiding of houseroom, and reproaching of the lender.

Sirach 30

1 He that loveth his son causeth him oft to feel the rod, that he may have joy of him in the end. 2 He that chastiseth his son shall have joy in him, and shall rejoice of him among his acquaintance. 3 He that teacheth his son grieveth the enemy: and before his friends he shall rejoice of him. 4 Though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead: for he hath left one behind him that is like himself. 5 While he lived, he saw and rejoiced in him: and when he died, he was not sorrowful. 6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one that shall requite kindness to his friends. 7 He that maketh too much of his son shall bind up his wounds; and his bowels will be troubled at every cry. 8 An horse not broken becometh headstrong: and a child left to himself will be wilful. 9 Cocker thy child, and he shall make thee afraid: play with him, and he will bring thee to heaviness. 10 Laugh not with him, lest thou have sorrow with him, and lest thou gnash thy teeth in the end. 11 Give him not liberty in youth. 12 Beat his sides while he is still young, lest becoming stubborn, he disobey thee. 13 Train up thy son, and exercise him with work, lest by thy looseness thou stumble. 13a And overlook not his ignorance. 13b Bow down his neck in his youth. 14 Better is the poor, being sound and strong of constitution, than a rich man that is afflicted in his body. 15 Health and good estate of body are above all gold, and a strong body above infinite wealth. 16 There is no riches above a sound body, and no joy above the joy of the heart. 17 Death is better than a bitter life or continual sickness. 18 Delicacies poured upon a mouth shut up are as messes of meat set upon a grave. 19 What good doeth the offering unto an idol? for neither can it eat nor smell: so is he that is persecuted of the Lord. 20 He seeth with his eyes and groaneth, as an eunuch that embraceth a virgin and sigheth. 21 Give not over thy mind to heaviness, and afflict not thyself in thine own counsel. 22 The gladness of the heart is the life of man, and the joyfulness of a man prolongeth his days. 23 Love thine own soul, and comfort thy heart, remove sorrow far from thee: for sorrow hath killed many, and there is no profit therein. 24 Envy and wrath shorten the life, and carefulness bringeth age before the time. 25 I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grape-gatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, 26 and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes. Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning. 27 Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation. 28 Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another, lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again. 29 As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any. 30 For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy. 31 In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour. 32 At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance. 33 Fodder, a stick, and burdens, [are] for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant. 34 If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he will seek liberty. 35 A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant. 36 Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil. 37 Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters. 38 But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing. 39 If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price. 40 If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?

Ephesians 5

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks. 5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect. 28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly, 30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.